A study to determine the structural and dynamic effects of a projectile's interaction with a rifle barrel during the firing process, and subsequent movement down the barrel

Abstract:

Methods to improve accuracy of firearms were sought ever since the invention of firearms. Among the facts this research uncovered is that both internal and external ballistics have an influence on accuracy. To date a vast amount of work and research have been concentrated on external ballistics. This, however, is not the case for internal ballistics, seeing as external ballistics is much more perceptible and verifiable than its counterpart. As a result, internal ballistics is generally still viewed as a grey area. Currently, weapon manufacturers make use of empirical methods and data to ensure firearm design integrity. Empirical data is obtained by taking specific measurements during the firing of design prototypes. The shortcoming of empirical data is that, in general, it does not deliver any direct input towards the optimizing of a design's internal ballistics. Thus the manufacturer knows the design to be safe, but it sometimes takes several designs and prototypes before a design's accuracy is satisfactory. This report deals with the application of finite element methods to the field of internal ballistics, as an alternative or forerunner to empirical methods.